Lincoln City Libraries (LCL) and the Lied Center for Performing Arts today announce Savor the Color of Life, a program to celebrate adult reading, libraries and “The Color Purple.” The reading program runs from February 1 through April 4 and coincides with African-American History Month and the performances of the musical “The Color Purple” at the Lied Center April 11 through 15.

“Lincoln City Libraries is delighted by this opportunity to draw attention to Alice Walker’s book, ‘The Color Purple,’ which won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award,” said Library Director Pat Leach. “Through the book, the musical and the movie, we’ll celebrate its message that in the midst of heartache and injustice, there is hope.” The 1985 movie was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, and the revival of the musical won a 2016 Tony Award.

“The Lied Center is thrilled to partner with Lincoln City Libraries, the Downtown Lincoln Association and the City of Lincoln,” said Bill Stephan, Executive Director of the Lied Center for Performing Arts. “This collaboration helps to foster strong community relationships and to share meaningful stories like ‘The Color Purple’ with a wide audience.”

“I’m excited about the collaboration among our libraries, the Lied Center for Performing Arts, the Downtown Lincoln Association and businesses and nonprofits in Lincoln,” said Mayor Chris Beutler. “These types of partnerships encourage neighbor interaction, keep people engaged and help create a vibrant city.”

To qualify for prizes, adults register online at lincolnlibraries.org and then read four books between February 1 and April 4. Drawings for tickets to “The Color Purple” at the Lied Center will take place during that period. The program also includes the following free special events:

Two African-American Read-Ins are scheduled. The first event is at noon Friday, February 9 at the Lincoln Public Schools District office, 5901 O St. The second is at noon, Wednesday, February 21 at the Eiseley Branch Library, 1520 Superior St. No registration required.

With support from the Downtown Lincoln Association (DLA), the library will host a Downtown Scavenger Hunt March 3 through 11. The DLA and Lied Center for Performing Arts will award prizes for successfully completed Scavenger Hunt forms. Information about registration will be announced at a kickoff event at Bennett Martin Public Library March 3 at 10:30 a.m.

A Gospel Music concert is planned for 5 p.m., Sunday, March 4 (location to be announced). The concert is free to all. Seating is limited.

Movie vs. Book at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 18 at Gere Branch Library, 2400 S. 56th St. Participants will watch the movie, then discuss it and the book.

A Poetry Slam is planned as a culminating event, and details will be announced soon.

I love this daily email with translations for Shakespeare.

Sonnet 33 – Lines 1-4

Full many a glorious morning have I seenFlatter the mountain tops with sovereign eye,Kissing with golden face the meadows green,Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy. . . .

Translation

have witnessed many brilliant mornings as the sun makes the mountain peaks more beautiful with its regal stare, kissing the verdant meadows with its dazzling face and making dim streams golden with its heavenly chemistry.

The Nebraska Repertory Theatre, the state’s only regional professional theatre, associated with the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film in the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, launches its first year-round season September 30, 2017 with ABIGAIL/1702 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa.

October 11, 12, 13 at 7:30 pm and October 8, 15 at 2:00 pm in the Lied Center’s Johnny Carson Theater. Tickets are available through the Lied Center Ticket Office at 301 North 12th Street, 402-472-4747 or 800-432-3231 Monday through Friday from 11:00 am to 5:30 pm, or online at http://www.liedcenter.org. A five-show season ticket is $120, $60 for students and member of OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute). Individual tickets for ABIGAIL/1702 are $30, $15 for students and OLLI members.

The Nebraska Repertory Theatre, affiliated with the Actors’ Equity Association, has been on hiatus since its final summer season in 2014. A new collaboration between the Nebraska Repertory Theatre and the Lied Center for Performing Arts, and a merger of the Nebraska Rep and University Theatre begins with ABIGAIL/1702. According to Park, “Nebraska Rep is thrilled to kick-off our 49th year with a bold new vision. For decades, we’ve served Lincoln as a professional summer repertory theatre. We are pleased to announce that we are now a year-round theatre. The theme of our season this year is Classics Reimagined. Not only are we reimagining Nebraska Repertory Theatre and expanding our season, but all of our shows this year tell familiar stories in a new way.”

ABIGAIL/1702 Ten years after The Crucible’s infamous seductress, Abigail Williams, danced with the devil in Salem, darkness returns. As she cares for a young sailor on the brink of death, a mysterious stranger from Abigail’s past catches up with her, sending her on one final, suspense-filled quest for redemption.

Park explains the background of the play: “Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, is a fictionalized account of the Salem Witch Trials that occurred in 1692. The play takes aim at the hysteria that swept colonial Salem, Massachusetts and caused twenty innocent victims to hang as witches.”

At the beginning of Miller’s play, Reverend Parris catches his niece, Abigail Williams, and several of her friends dancing in the woods. Fearing severe punishment, the girls pretend to be possessed by friends, family members and neighbors.

Park continues, “Abigail Williams is a cunning manipulator. She easily whips the other girls into an emotional frenzy…One man, John Proctor, knows that [she] is lying…Worried for his friends and neighbors, John threatens to reveal his infidelity with Abigail to the court if necessary to stop her…Eventually, Abigail stands by as even John is accused. Unable to watch John Proctor hang, Abigail steals Reverend Parris’ life savings and flees from Salem. ABIGAIL/1702 begins 10 years after John Proctor and 19 others were falsely accused, sentenced and hung for witchcraft.”

After a three-year hiatus, Nebraska Repertory Theatre returns this fall for the 2017-18 theater season at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

A New Look for a New

Nebraska Repertory Theatre

Nebraska Rep Debuts New Logo

and 2017 – 2018 Offerings

The Mission

Nebraska Repertory Theatre creates innovative theatrical experiences to ignite the imagination, challenge the heart, promote an inclusive community and inspire the next generation of theatre artists.

ABIGAIL/1702

by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, directed by the Nebraska Rep’s new artistic director, Andy Park.

Ten years after The Crucible‘s infamous seductress, Abigail Williams, danced with the devil in Salem, darkness returns. As she cares for a young sailor on the brink of death, a mysterious stranger from Abigail’s past catches up with her, sending her on one final, suspense-filled quest for redemption.

Lied Center’s Johnny Carson Theater

September 30 –

October 15

THE SERPENT

by Jean-Claude van Itallie

directed by Wesley Broulik

This brilliant and groundbreaking tour de force in contemporary improvisational theatre explores the Book of Genesis, and relates it to our modern experience with an eloquence and power which had earned it recognition as a milestone of American drama. Most of the work is choreographed movement, pantomime, human sounds and music made by bells, horns, whistles, tambourines and other hand-held instruments.

Temple Building

November 3 – 19

THE HOLIDAY CABARET

conceived and directed by

Andy Park

Audiences will be treated to holiday standards performed by favorite past Rep performers, emerging artists and surprise guests. To headline this year’s Cabaret, the Rep welcomes Chicago’s premiere, sweet-singing female trio, THE LAKESHORE DOLLS. The Cabaret will get everyone in the holiday spirit with this toe-tapping, uplifting night of song, good cheer and revelry.

Temple Building

December 13 – 17

The state’s only regional professional theatre will offer a six-production season beginning September 30, 2017. Tickets are available now through the Lied Center Ticket Office at 301 North 12th Street, 402-472-4747 or 800-432-3231 Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM, or online at liedcenter.org (see link below).

The Nebraska Repertory Theatre, affiliated with the professional Actors’ Equity Association, has been on hiatus since 2014. A new collaboration between the Nebraska Repertory Theatre and the Lied Center for Performing Arts, and a merger of the Nebraska Rep and University Theatre begins this fall. The Nebraska Rep, over a nine-month season during the academic year, will further expand opportunities for audiences and students to engage with professional artists.

Coming this Spring

AVENUE Q

Music and Lyrics by

Robert Lopez and

Jeff Marx

Book by Jeff Whitty

Based on an Original Concept by

Robert Lopez and

Jeff Marx

Lied Center’s Johnny Carson Theater

March 2 – 16, 2018

THE REP’S RISING STARS

Temple Building

March 30 – April 1, 2018

William Goulding’s

LORD OF THE FLIES

adapted for the stage by Nigel Williams

Temple Building

April 13 – 22, 2018

After a three-year hiatus, Nebraska Repertory Theatre returns this fall for the 2017-18 theater season at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Nebraska Repertory Theatre opens its season Sept. 30

Andy Park announces the season at a special event May 11 at The Dish in Lincoln. Photo by Michael Reinmiller.

The Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film with the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts is relaunching the Nebraska Repertory Theatre this fall. The state’s only regional, professional theatre will offer a five-production season beginning September 30.

Tickets are available now through the Lied Center Box Office at (402) 472-4747 or (800) 432-3231 Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., or online at http://www.liedcenter.org. A five-show season ticket is $120 and $60 for students and members of OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute).